A prominent politician in Guyana, Nigel Dharamlall, has been accused of sexual assault for the second time within a year. The accuser, economist Sarah Aneesah Hakh, alleged that Dharamlall sexually assaulted her in 2020 and 2021. The first incident reportedly occurred during a business meeting when Dharamlall held a senior ministerial position in Guyana's regional development.
Hakh expressed disbelief that Dharamlall remains a member of the ruling People's Progressive Party despite the allegations against him. Dharamlall, who denied the accusations, claimed that Hakh's motives were to tarnish his reputation after he rejected her advances.
Notably, Dharamlall had resigned from his government positions last year following a separate rape accusation by an indigenous teenage girl. However, the girl later withdrew the claim, leading to public speculation about possible corruption.
In response to the recent allegations, a women's rights group in Guyana criticized the handling of the case, expressing concerns about the perceived impunity for powerful individuals accused of sexual violence.
Hakh detailed the alleged assaults, stating that Dharamlall forcibly performed sexual acts on her without consent during meetings in 2020 and 2021. She cited fear of police corruption and potential backlash from her family, who had business ties with Dharamlall, as reasons for not reporting the incidents earlier.
Despite her initial hesitance, Hakh eventually filed a police report and cyberbullying charges against Dharamlall. She emphasized the importance of speaking out to support other victims and combat the stigma associated with sexual assault.
